                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

LIEN OF MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS (§ 43-33)

Every mechanic who shall alter or repair any article of personal property at the
request of the owner of such property shall have a lien thereon for his just and
reasonable charges therefor and may retain possession of such property until
such charges are paid.
		And every mechanic who shall make necessary alterations or repairs on any
article of personal property which from its character requires the making of
ordinary repairs thereto as a reasonable incident to its reasonable and
customary use, at the request of any person legally in possession thereof under
a reservation of title contract, chattel mortgage, deed of trust, or other
instrument securing money, the person so in possession having authority to use
such property, shall have a lien thereon for his just and reasonable charges
therefor to the extent of $1,000. In addition, such mechanic shall be entitled
to a lien against the proceeds, if any, remaining after the satisfaction of all
prior security interests or liens and may retain possession of such property
until such charges are paid. In any action to enforce the lien hereby given all
persons having an interest in the property sought to be subjected shall be made
parties defendant.
		If the owner of the property held by the mechanic shall desire to obtain
possession thereof, he shall make the mechanic defendant in proceeding in the
county or municipal court to recover the property.
		The owner may give a bond payable to the court, in a penalty of the amount
equal to the lien claimed by the mechanic and court costs, with security to be
approved by the clerk, and conditioned for the performance of the final judgment
of the court on the trial of the proceeding, and with a further condition to the
effect that, if upon the hearing, the judgment of the court be that the lien of
the mechanic on such property, or any part thereof, be enforced, judgment may
thereupon be entered against the obligors on such bond for the amount due the
mechanic and court costs, if assessed against the owner, without further or
other proceedings against them thereon. Upon giving of the bond, the property
shall be delivered to the owner.

HISTORY: Code 1919, § 6443; 1924, p. 638; 1956, c. 558; 1966, c. 458; 1968, c.
395; 1973, c. 492; 1974, c. 166; 1980, c. 598; 1984, c. 396; 1999, c. 533; 2005,
c. 280; 2016, c. 397.